The door groaned as Erik pushed it open, its rusty hinges shrieking under the sudden movement. Beyond it lay a room bathed in hazy darkness. The only light source was a single flickering chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting long, ominous shadows on the walls.
As Erik's eyes adjusted to the low light, the room's single occupant came into view, strеtchеd out on an austеrе metal bed. Lucy. The mayor's daughter Erik's 'hostage.' His endgame for this dangerous test was finally within sight.
The sight of the young woman, bound and vulnerable, sent a shockwave of relief through him.
Despite knowing this was all part of the elaborate testing, seeing a fellow human after all the robots was a welcome change, and her acting skills were superb, which made everything seem more real. He carefully approached her, his sharp eyes noting her condition.
Her wrists and ankles to the metal frame of the bed. Her clothes were disheveled, her dark hair spilled over the side of the mat, and her face was pale under the harsh orange light.
Her eyes, a striking emerald green, were wide and filled with fear and relief. It was a good act. She looked the part of the scared, kidnapped girl, playing her role in this constructed world convincingly.
Erik could make out his features more clearly as he approached her. She was young, probably in her early twenties, and her features betrayed a hint of innocent beauty. Her lips were pale but full, and her nose was small and straight.
She had high cheekbones, making her face look more angular under the sharp shadows of the room.
Despite her precarious situation, she had a precise determination in her eyes. Erik could tell she was part of the tasting team. She was another actor on this grand stage, a vital cog in the machinery of this simulated world. Yet, bound and awaiting release at that moment, she fully embodied her role.
Once more, he cast his eyes around the room to ensure they were the only people there. His heart pounded in his ears, not from fear but from the adrenaline of this final mission stretch. This was the end. He was present here.
He had found the hostage, or the person playing that part. It was time to wrap up the practical test.
As he approached Lucy, he paused momentarily to evaluate the constraints she was struggling with. He was well aware that even in the simulated environment of the guild's practical test, the goal was to locate the prisoner and rescue it securely.
That was the last challenge Erik would need to overcome in his practical exam, and he was well prepared to do so.
The room was saturated in silence, broken only by its two occupants' calm, rhythmic breaths. Lucy's eyes were still wide as they met Erik's gaze behind the mask. "Who are you?" she asked her voice barely a whisper, echoing off the barren walls of the dimly lit room.
Erik's gaze never wavered behind the mask as he responded, "I'm Erik, sent by the Mercenary Guild to assist you. I'm here to get you out. " His voice was steady, exuding a sense of assurance and control that seemed to calm Lucy's eyes.
There was a moment of stunned silence as she spoke. "The Mеrcеnary Guild?" she asked. Erik nodded, noticing how her eyes flicked from his face to the room around them as if trying to understand how she had ended up in such a situation.
"We don't have much time," Erik continued, cutting off his thoughts. "The guards will be back soon. We need to move." His voice now had a sense of urgency, echoing the rapidly escalating situation.
Her eyes locked onto his mask again, a shared understanding passing between them. At that moment, they were no longer just part of the test; their characters fully embodied their roles.
<This is getting completely out of hand.> Erik was conscious of the fact that he was enjoying the test more than he ought to have.
Erik made a hasty approach to her as he worked quickly with his hands to loosen the straps that were holding her to the bed.
Lucy flexed her wrists and ankles as each one was removed, and the fact that she had a few lines of pain engraved into her face attests to the authenticity of the scenario.
After being let out, she gingerly got out of bed and checked how her legs felt. Erik observed her while she was performing the act, and he noticed that her legs were trembling ever so slightly. Nevertheless, there was no mistaking the fact that she was faking everything.
Erik gave her some time to gather her composure, the atmosphere in the room becoming increasingly tense as they had to escape. The flickering of the faint light coming from the single bulb created foreboding shadows across the two individuals.
The air was thick with the expectation of what would come, and the moments seemed to drag on forever as if the world outside their room had stopped moving.
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally stood up, her gaze returning repeatedly to Erik's mask. They had recommitted themselves in a way that only served to ratchet up the pressure they were already under.
They needed to act quickly. It was impossible to predict when the guards would find their missing comrades. Lucy followed closely behind Erik as he led the way, and she replied with a nod indicating that she understood what she had to do.
After making a small crack in the door, Erik peeked into the hallway, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the two remaining guards.
They were occupied with conducting an investigation into the disappearance of the other two robotic guards that had been stationed in front of the door previously.
The pounding of Erik's heart against his rib cage was a beat that matched the ticking clock that represented their limited window of chance. He took note of the guards' posture, the degree to which they had raised their attention and the thoroughness of their search. This was the most ideal time to strike them.
He looked back at Lucy. Her face was pale, her eyes wide, yet determined. She was ready. Her chest's rapid rise and fall mirrored his own, the tension of their predicament hanging heavy in the air.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢